logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2019
15m 3s

The Secret to Cheetahs’ Super Speed

Tumble Media
About this episode
How do cheetahs get their super speed? We talk to a cheetah scientist to find out why a spotted cat is the fastest animal on Earth. Cheetahs are literally built for speed! Anne Hilborn spent months scoping out cheetahs on the hunt in the grasslands of the Serengeti. We’ll discover how cheetahs’ incredible speed is linked to their survival - and what they do ... Show More
Up next
Jan 9
The Science of Fungi
This is a rebroadcast of one of our favorite episodes from season 9! Do fungi breathe? That’s what listener Alice wants to know - and we’ll find out in our punniest episode yet! We visit the Fungarium - the largest and oldest collection of fungi in the world with curator Lee Davi ... Show More
26m 11s
Dec 26
The Science of Whiskers
This is a re-broadcast of a favorite episode from 2019. We actually won our first AAAS Kavli Award for this episode, along with The Cave of the Underground Astronauts. Check it out! Why do seals have whiskers? Listener Karah’s question dives into the wonderful world of whisker sc ... Show More
16m 54s
Dec 19
Tumble Mailbag: Your Questions about Language, Sandwiches, and Cats - and Our Oldest Patrons!
We’re wrapping up 2025 with a final Mailbag episode, featuring some of our longest-running Patrons! Did you know, when you sign up to support Tumble on Patreon, you’ll get a personalized message from Marshall? And if you’ve been supporting us for years, we might just call you up ... Show More
24m 8s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2023
Tooth and Claw: Cheetahs
Adam Hart investigates the fastest land animal in the world – the cheetah! Built for high-speed chases, these spotted cats are slender, with semi-retractable claws for good grip and a flexible spine plus a long tail for balance and manoeuvrability. Cheetahs rely on speed over bru ... Show More
27m 17s
Nov 2020
S1 E3: Flash of fur
Cheetah drops by to talk about life as the world's fastest land animal. Who will win when Kyle's dad challenges cheetah to a race? 
12m 16s
May 2018
Milo asks: What if cheetahs could jump the sky?
Chentle is the fastest of all the cheetahs, but she also wants to be the best climber of all the ninjas and the best flyer of all the rocket ship houses. Can she be the best at everything, and will she be happy when she leaves everyone else in her dust?  Lessons include: being m ... Show More
16m 14s
Aug 2021
Cracking Down on Cheetah Traffickers
Cheetahs are in trouble. With just 7,000 left in the wild in Africa, populations have been in a continuous decline due to trophy hunting, habitat loss, retaliatory killings, and dealers looking to sell them to the wealthy. National Geographic editor Rachael Bale shares what she s ... Show More
28m 40s
Oct 2022
The Tortoise teaches the rude animals a valuable lesson 🐢🐰🦔🐦
The tortoise is a humble creature and he doesn't race. He knows he will always get to where he needs to go in time. One day, he encounters some very rude animals that are always picking on him because he is so slow, but then they find themselves in tricky situations and need the ... Show More
12m 50s
Nov 2022
Wild inside: The Cheetah
Zoologist Ben Garrod and veterinary surgeon Jess French delve deep into some amazing internal anatomy to unravel the secrets to survival of some of nature’s iconic animals.They begin with one of the rarities of the cat family – the cheetah, which at just under two metres long, is ... Show More
27m 54s
Sep 2023
How do animals build their homes?
<p>People are really good at building homes out of everything from wood and concrete to mud and ice. But when it comes to animal homes, creatures can be more inventive than humans!</p><br><p>In this creatively constructed episode, Molly and cohost Marama renovate Brains On HQ wit ... Show More
29m 15s
Nov 2023
Capybaras vs. Komodo Dragons: a creature debate
<p>Today’s debate is a fantastic face-off between a relaxed rodent and a raging reptile. We’ve got a cuddly meme, and a hissing, hunting machine! It’s Capybaras vs. Komodo Dragons!<strong><em> </em></strong>Brains On producer and archaeologist Anna Goldfield reps the captivating ... Show More
31m 54s
Nov 2023
Capybaras vs. Komodo Dragons: a creature debate
<p>Today’s debate is a fantastic face-off between a relaxed rodent and a raging reptile. We’ve got a cuddly meme, and a hissing, hunting machine! It’s Capybaras vs. Komodo Dragons!<strong><em> </em></strong>Brains On producer and archaeologist Anna Goldfield reps the captivating ... Show More
31m 54s